Social Security benefits are taxed for some people based on their income.

As taxpayers prepare to file their returns over the next few months, VERIFY answers your questions about the tax period.

We’ve already covered what families need to know about the 2023 Child Tax Credit and provided free tax filing options.

Some VERIFY readers want to know if they have to pay taxes on certain government benefits they receive. Harry asked if Social Security payments were tax deductible.

Are Social Security benefits taxable?

Yes, Social Security benefits are taxable for people who meet certain income requirements.

All income is considered taxable unless it is exempt from tax by law, according to the IRS. Some of those exceptions include inheritances, gifts, death insurance and life insurance, according to Mark Steber, director of tax information at Jackson Hewitt.

For Social Security, you will have to pay federal taxes on a portion of your benefits if your income is within a certain level. These benefits include a monthly pension, survivor benefits and disability benefits. According to the IRS, supplemental insurance income (SSI) payments are never taxed.

No one who receives Social Security payments pays taxes on the full benefit amount, Steber said. But you will have to pay more as your income increases.

Here is a breakdown of how much of your Social Security benefits will be subject to federal tax, based on your income:

Up to 85% of your benefits are taxable if:

• Half of your Social Security benefits plus all other income is over $34,000 for individuals.
• Half of your Social Security benefits plus all other income is over $44,000 for a couple filing jointly.

Example: If a person received $10,000 in Social Security benefits last year and earned $35,000 in total, they will pay $8,500 in federal taxes on those benefits in addition to their other income.

50% of your benefits are taxable if:

• Half of your Social Security benefits plus all other income is between $25,000 and $34,000 for individuals.
• Half of your Social Security benefits plus all other income is between $32,000 and $44,000 for a couple filing jointly.

Example: If a person received $10,000 in Social Security benefits last year and earned $30,000 in total, they will pay $5,000 in federal taxes on those benefits in addition to their other income.

None of your Social Security benefits are taxable if:

The above rules apply to federal income taxes. Twelve states also tax some or all of residents’ Social Security benefits, according to the AARP. You can find more information about individual states here.

The IRS has an online tool that can help you determine if your benefits are tax deductible.

According to the AARP, there are options to pay federal income tax on your Social Security benefits. You can either file quarterly calculated tax returns with the IRS or ask Social Security to withhold federal taxes from your benefit payment, or you can pay the full amount at the time of taxes.